أشاد الدولي الكوري الجنوبي، سون هيونج مين، مهاجم توتنهام الإنجليزي، بالبرتغالي جوزيه مورينيو المدير الفني للفريق.

المدرب البرتغالي يقترب من عام واحد في تدريب توتنهام، واللاعب الكوري الجنوبي أعجب كثيرًا بتأثير جوزيه مورينيو في الفريق.

طالع أيضًا.. تقارير: تجديد عقد سون هيونج أولوية في توتنهام

وفي تصريحات لموقع “جول” العالمي، قال سون هيونج مين: “بعض الناس يسيئون فهم المدرب، ربما لديهم رأي مختلف، وهذا طبيعي، لكننا اعتدنا على تواجد مورينيو”.

وأضاف: “نحن نضحك ونبتسم يوميًا في التدريبات مع مورينيو، لديه عقلية الفوز ونعتقد جميعًا أنه يمكن أن يحقق النجاح معنا ويأخذنا إلى مستوى أعلى”.

وأكمل: “لقد كان رائعًا من اليوم الأول معنا، وسأتذكر دائمًا كيف شعرت عندما جاء لأول مرة إلى النادي وأصبح مدربي”.

وأوضح: “كانت فترة توقف دولي، عندما وصلتنا أخبار أن بوتشيتينو سيغادر، كنت حزينًا، لأن الجميع كانت تربطه به علاقة جيدة حقًا”.

وواصل: “ثم بعد ذلك، وصلنا مدربًا هو أحد أكثر المدربين نجاحًا في كرة القدم، لقد كان أمرًا لا يصدق، في المرة الأولى التي قابلته فيها، لم أصدق، لأنني كنت أشاهده عندما كنت طفلًا يفوز بالكثير من الجوائز، والآن أعمل معه”.

 واختتم: “نحن الآن معًا لمدة عام واحد، وكان الأمر رائعًا، كان الموسم الماضي صعبًا في ظل الإصابات، لكننا بدأنا هذا الموسم بشكل جيد ونريد الحفاظ على هذا الشعور وتحقيق النجاح معًا”.

Possibly the most polarizing figure in Arsenal currently, Granit Xhaka’s had some real highs and bitter lows with the club.

However, following an inspired performance at international level for Switzerland, he now seems to be developing into the talented, dominating midfielder Arsenal fans were promised.

Captaining his national side against Denmark, Xhaka was prolific in creating chances, pinging passes forward and looking more threatening controlling the game. The game itself, however, was a bittersweet one for him. Xhaka scored a thunderous right-footed goal in front of his home fans, but after being substituted, saw his side crumble into giving away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3.

He might’ve lost the personal battle with rival Christian Eriksen, yet must’ve made Unai Emery realize how he works playing forward. Having bought him as a defensive-midfielder, Arsenal tends to scrap a load of defensive responsibilities on his shoulders.

Xhaka’s defensive strength is pretty minimal, which often results in him making mistakes and being criticized for it. Rather than forcing him to aid their defence, Emery should allow him to control the tempo of Arsenal’s games more often.

He’s already scored 4 Premier League goals this season more than his previous two combined. Averaging 76+ passes per game, 142 accurate long balls and 100 crosses (stats via Premier League), he’s more prolific creating chances rather than preventing them.

Xhaka’s at his most dangerous when encouraged to go forward and he’s produced four goals and three assists this season, so Emery should tap into his attacking prowess to turn him into the next Aaron Ramsey than an N’Golo Kante.

Arsenal fans, do you think Xhaka should be encouraged to go forward more often? Join the discussion by commenting below…

There are very few clubs in English football whose supporters would react to an impending relegation in a similar fashion to those at Bradford City.

Despite the fact that the Bantams are expected to be playing in the fourth tier for the first time in six years, rather than turning their back on their side, fans have instead flocked to get their season tickets. According to the Telegraph and Argus, Gary Bowyer’s side have already sold 13,108 despite the new season still being four months away.

Although it is fair to point out the fact that the pricing of the ticket (£150) would have been one of the main reasons for the club’s fans to commit to the new campaign, it is overwhelmingly clear that Bradford now need to repay them for their loyalty.

In order to do this, Bowyer must be given the necessary funds to build his own squad of players when the transfer window opens in June. Since the 47-year-old’s arrival at Valley Parade last month, he has inherited a team which lacks quality in all areas and if he is not given the opportunity to address this in the summer, the likelihood of success next season will not be high whatsoever.

Relegation to League Two can typically go one of three ways if previous history is anything to go by. Whereas some sides thrive in the fourth tier and achieve immediate promotion, others have to rebuild over a number of years whilst the third scenario is one that Bradford will want to avoid at all costs.

Both Chesterfield and Leyton Orient both suffered terrible transitions when they went down in recent years which resulted in them falling out of the Football League altogether. Given the fact that the Bantams were a Premier League club just 18 years ago, it would be a disaster if they follow in the footsteps of the Spireites and the O’s.

Not only would it throw the club into financial difficulty but it would also test the resolve of their supporters who have backed them throughout the tough times and are in desperate need of some positivity next season.

What do you think Bradford fans? How important is it that Bowyer is given the sufficient funds to build in the summer? Are you concerned ahead of next season? Get in touch below.

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Manchester City 3-2 QPR. Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal. Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool. All incredible games, all involving teams that looked dead and buried before they pulled off stunning comebacks.

So what is the greatest Premier League turnaround of all time? According to Paul Merson, it’s Everton’s 2-0 win over Chelsea before the international break.

Making his predictions for this week’s clash at the London Stadium, Merson told Sky Sports when reflecting on the last outing at Goodison Park…

“I’ve never seen a turnaround like it in the Premier League. You see them on a Sunday morning when then wind is gale force and a team plays downhill, but not in the top-flight.”

Compelling stuff from Sky Sports’ resident butcher of any name with a hint of exoticism, as if he’s been secretly running Brexit’s native advertising campaign for the last decade.

In fairness, Everton were a completely different side in the second half against Chelsea, the statistics tell us as much. 3 shots in the first half compared to 12 in the second, 0 corners compared to four, and of course no goals compared to two.

What’s more, the shift in momentum after an incredibly dire opening 45 minutes was pretty much instant; Richarlison reacted quickest after Dominic Calvert-Lewin connected with a corner to put Everton ahead four minutes on from the interval. Whatever Marco Silva said at half-time clearly worked.

But just consider the strength of that claim – “I’ve never seen a turnaround like it in the Premier League.”

This is a man who has been paid to watch the Premier League every week for years, whose own club were on the receiving end of arguably the Premier League’s greatest ever comeback at the hands of Newcastle, when the Magpies scored four goals in the final 22 minutes to pull off a draw back in 2011.

Does Merson actually think Everton’s turnaround against Chelsea was more impressive, more unprecedented, more special? It’s either hyperbole for the sake of a predictions column, or genuine stupidity.

The 2007/08 campaign would have been largely forgotten by Barnsley fans if their club had not produced heroics in the FA Cup.

An underwhelming 18th placed finish in the Championship saw them occasionally flirt with relegation to the third tier of English football before pulling clear of the drop zone with a handful of games to play whilst in the League Cup they suffered a second-round exit from the competition, losing to Newcastle United.

Barnsley – FA Cup, 2008

The Tykes FA Cup run began with a 2-1 victory over Blackpool and was followed by a 1-0 win at Southend United in the fourth round which set up a mouthwatering clash with Liverpool at Anfield. Simon Davey’s side entered the clash as huge underdogs and looked to be exiting the competition when Dirk Kuyt put the Reds ahead in the first half. However, buoyed by a backing of 6,000 supporters, Barnsley equalised courtesy of a header from Stephen Foster before Brian Howard fired in a last-minute winner to secure a dramatic victory and a quarter-final clash with Chelsea.

At the time of the clash, the Blues were the defending champions in the FA Cup and entered the game at Oakwell as overwhelming favourites. With a starting eleven that included the likes of Joe Cole, John Terry, Michael Ballack and Nicolas Anelka, manager Avram Grant would have been incredibly confident of beating the Tykes. Yet, on a famous night in Yorkshire, Barnsley once again overcame the odds to secure their second cup upset in two rounds as a header from Kayode Odejayi dumped Chelsea out of the competition, setting up a semi-final clash with fellow Championship Cardiff City.

Although the Tykes were experiencing a poor season in the league, their cup form would have led their supporters to believe that they could beat the Bluebirds at Wembley Stadium. However, in what was their first FA Cup semi-final in 96 years, Barnsley were unable to repeat their previous heroics as a Joe Ledley goal saw Cardiff prevail to a showdown with Portsmouth.

That was a huge missed opportunity – as we’re sure you’ll all agree. Yes, it was a remarkable journey but it probably peaked too soon, considering the level of opposition they had beaten and then the state of the teams remaining.

Truly gutting.

Obviously, since this clash, the Tykes have failed to make it past the quarter-final stage in the competition which illustrates just how great their achievement was in 2008. Not only did it draw international attention due to their wins over Liverpool and Chelsea but it also provided their supporters with moments that they will never forget.

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Loads of Sunderland fans have been reacting to their win over Doncaster, as the Black Cats continue to keep the pressure on Barnsley.

Sunderland suffered a humiliating setback last weekend, conceding five goals at home in a remarkable defeat to Coventry.

Jack Baldwin and Tom Flanagan were absolutely woeful in the match, leaving Jack Ross no choice but to switch things up when Doncaster came to town on Friday evening.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

The boss opted for Alim Ozturk and Jimmy Dunne in defence, the former of which has played just 13 times in all competitions this season, and just six times total in the league.

The change was a success too, as barring a penalty shout that Ozturk was perhaps lucky to get away with, the new duo impressed fans with their no-nonsense style of defending.

The Black Cats are now just two points behind Barsnley after the 2-0 win over Doncaster, and they still have a game in hand on the Tykes as well.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where some fans have gone slightly overboard with their comments on the formerly forgotten Ozturk….

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Josh Cullen has been a huge hit at The Valley since joining Charlton on loan from West Ham in the summer, with his tireless performances in midfield endearing him to the fans, who would surely love to see him remain with the club next season.

The 22-year-old has identified one factor as a big reason in why he traded the London Stadium for League One football in 2018 and it proves, once again, how important it is that Roland Duchatelet makes his move in the coming days.

What did he say?

Well, speaking to News Shopper Sport this week, the Irishman said:

“Knowing I’d be working under [Bowyer] and being able to learn off someone who played a similar position to me was a big reason in me coming. I feel like I’ve picked up tips and bits of knowledge in training.

“If he sees anything he can see in me that needs for to improve on, or do easier, then he’s there to point it out. And I’m getting that advice from a player who played at the top level, so its definitely been beneficial working under him.

“[Bowyer and Johnnie Jackson] have helped me day in day out.”

Beckoning Bowyer

Cullen says Bowyer, who made a total of 60 appearances for his parent club West Ham, was a huge selling point in his August switch to The Valley and the signs of Bowyer’s guidance have been clear to see.

The 5 ft 9 ace has gone from strength to strength, particularly in recent weeks when the Addicks have gone eight games unbeaten, and the Charlton hierarchy should certainly feel pleased that they were able to convince him to join in no small part thanks to Bowyer.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

Getting the 42-year-old manager to sign a new deal, then, is paramount if Charlton are to continue to attract players of Cullen’s calibre – what more convincing does Duchatelet need to give Bowyer a new contract?

قرر نادي الوداد المغربي إحالة لاعبين من صفوف فريق الكرة للتأديب بسبب ما بدر منهما قبل مواجهة الأهلي ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وكان الوداد قد خسر من الأهلي ذهابًا وإيابًا في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا بنتيجة 5-1.

ونشرت الصفحة الرسمية لنادي الوداد عبر موقع التواصل الإجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “على إثر الحادث الذي عرفه فندق إقامة نادي الوداد الرياضي بالدار البيضاء بعد مباراته بنصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

طالع | 7 ضحايا.. الوداد يعلن توجيه الشكر إلى هؤلاء بعد الهزيمة من الأهلي

وأكملت: “وبسببه تم فصل أحد العاملين بالفندق، قرر نادي الوداد الرياضي إحالة ملف اللاعب عبد اللطيف نصير على اللجنة التأديبية للنظر في هذه الحالة”.

واختتمت: “كما قرر نادي الوداد الرياضي عرض ملف اللاعب هيثم البهجة على اللجنة التأديبية، لما صدر عنه من تصرفات لا أخلاقية ضد الطاقم التقني، أثناء المباراة الأخيرة لنادي الوداد الرياضي بمصر”.

بلاغعلى إثر الحادث الذي عرفه فندق إقامة نادي الوداد الرياضي بالدار البيضاء بعد مباراته برسم نصف نهاية عصبة الأبطال…

Posted by Wydad Athletic Club – WAC onTuesday, October 27, 2020

Arsenal yesterday laboured to a 1-0 defeat away at Everton in a defeat that places a dent in their top four hopes. The Gunners had a chance to once again leapfrog arch-rivals Tottenham and move into 3rd place in the process. In fairly typical Arsenal fashion, however, they were unable to build on recent momentum that saw them undefeated in six Premier League games.

The game was perhaps summed up best by Mesut Özil, who threw his coat in the direction of Everton manager Marco Silva after a subdued performance led to his substitution after just 70 minutes. Özil, who has received widespread criticism throughout the season, was given the captain’s armband by Unai Emery – a move which backfired.

Arsenal’s lack of leadership has been highlighted time and time again since the days of Patrick Viera, but arguably it’s now as prevalent as ever.

Upon arriving at Arsenal, boss Unai Emery stated his desire for ‘five captains’ to lead the team. Laurent Koscielny, currently club captain, has managed only 12 appearances this season in the Premier League. Jack Wilshire was swiftly moved on by Emery, while Aaron Ramsey will be playing his football in Italy next season. Additionally, right back Hector Bellerin has been out since January after undergoing knee surgery.

Mesut Özil found himself with the armband in a critical game. With the battle for the top four so hotly contested, nothing short of a victory was acceptable. Yes, an off night is acceptable. And yes, you can’t pin the loss solely on the German. However, in a time where leaders are sparse, he needed to stand up.

Özil’s behaviour off the field showed the clear frustration he currently feels. But it’s not the behaviour of a captain. Özil has emerged as more of a problem than a solution this season. He perhaps now divides the fans more than anyone. His talent is clear, but where does he fit in the team?

Emery gave the midfielder the armband in what seemed a bold move. But is it more the point that there simply wasn’t anyone else?

Where Emery wanted to build a team full of leaders, departures and injuries have left him short. While improvements have been seen under the Spaniard, further investment is most certainly needed.

Arsenal fans, how fed up are you of Mesut Ozil? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

When the debate of who had the hardest shot in football comes about, it doesn’t take long for Jon Arne Riise’s name to be mentioned.

Riise joined Liverpool from AS Monaco for £5.49 million (as per Transfermarkt) back in 2001 and it’s safe to say that the fee paid for the defender was soon repaid on the field.

Indeed, the Norwegian fullback’s legacy of hitting the ball ridiculously hard is something all football fans of a certain age remember well, and the former Liverpool star was quite literally one of the most explosive defenders to watch in the Premier League in the early 2000s.

Although Riise spent some time at Fulham in the latter years of his career, it is his spell at Liverpool that everyone remembers most. During his time on Merseyside, the former Monaco left-back scored 30 goals in 348 appearances for the Reds in which the Norwegian international won almost everything with the club.

Riise was the only Liverpool player to miss a penalty during their famous Champions League final win over AC Milan in 2005, however, the defender redeemed himself a year later, scoring the winning spot-kick against West Ham in the FA Cup final.

During his seven years at the club, Riise was one of Liverpool’s most important players both defensively and offensively. Primarily a left-back but able to play in a more advanced position, Riise made a name for himself as being a defender who was not afraid to venture forward whilst also doing well to return to defensive duties quickly.

As well as being an overall important player for the Reds, his set-piece wizardry made him one of the Premier League’s most lethal dead-ball specialists, being able to whip in corners with precision and power and being able to smash in free-kicks from both short and long distances.

Of course, Andy Robertson has made a name for himself since joining Liverpool from Hull City but he’s still got quite a way to go if he is to follow in Riise’s footsteps. The former Red literally had everything and supporters may have even loved him more than the Scotsman, which is understandable if you ever saw him play in the flesh.

His long-shot goals are the stuff of legend in English football, having one of the hardest shots out of any player in the history of the Premier League, something that built the foundation of Riise’s cult hero status on Merseyside.

Not all good things can last forever, though, and after losing his first-team place to Fabio Aurelio, Riise was sold to Roma in the summer of 2008, where he again asserted himself as a fan favourite.

Riise is a unique player in the history of Premier League. Known for his rockets shots, he is a player that is remembered fondly by neutrals and adored by Liverpool fans, who will also have time to reminisce about their former Norwegian superstar.